Sunday, November 28, 2010

One of our favorite things to do, besides art projects is to decorate. Always having more ideas than money, this was one of those times to use both skills. After a long marathon session of 9 X Design episodes, we fell in love with Ann Carrington's work. While I am confident it will take winning the lottery to afford one of her pieces, the girls and I decided we were going to try an art project INSPIRED by the great and wonderful Ann. We started by taking a large piece of denim we already had from another project and used a bleach pen to do the outline of a peace sign. From there, using primarily vintage buttons from Ebay, we started (or rather I started) sewing buttons onto the fabric. This monster task illustrated to me why Ann has a great team...GEEZE it was time intensive. As days melted into weeks, we decided both to switch to various glues and add multi-media elements. My wonderful boyfriend added his carpentry skills by building a frame and stapling it on. When completed, there was actually a section of the project that represents each person in the house. We incorporated old keys, foreign and domestic money, political buttons and sheet music just to name a few things. Little Monkey (who is a great fan of Nate Berkus, as am I) decided this would also be a great I Spy piece and constructed a list of items and a key. Despite all the work, I think the finished product came out well.

Paired with lamps I scored on serious clearance at Target, a clearance bowl from Pier 1 and a ten dollar orange platter I found at Walmart it looks great. Both kitchen table are made from old doors. The white buffet table, one I scored in a Galveston Island junk shop for 35 bucks and the other, the former front screen door from my Grandparents house in the 70's. The legs came from Ikea (both sets on sale) and a local glass shop provided the tops. My chairs and bench on the other side I already had in a previous kitchen incarnation and I painted these from red to beige. Even the light fixture was a clearance item from Home Depot and the baskets under the white table, Longaberger that I purchased 10 years ago. They have served me well for the cost and have gone from living room toy catchers for little ones to comfy cat bed for our aging flock of furry babies. The vases/candle holders on the kitchen table are punch cups from a pottery punch bowl set from Thailand. Not too bad if I do say so myself!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

As I am still horribly ill, I decided to do a repost of something from a couple of years back. This spawned many a long conversation in our house. Since New Year is fast approaching and the thought of resolutions is in the air, I think this is a good place to start. Enjoy!

I WOULD CHANGE

*nothing about my life because it’s how I got where I am now. (but that being said...)

*the shape of my body so I could confidently walk, completely naked, into the street and think nothing of it. :)

*the color of the paint on my walls every six months if that were not horribly inconvenient.

*the time I lost away from old friends because they complete my life in so many ways.

*how easily I stop talking when I know that the thing I am about to say is likely going to hurt someone.

*the perception that I am uber-strong and confident all the time so that people will realize sometimes, I just need a hug.

*the fact that we live in a world where too many people are not afforded basic human rights, whether it due to famine, bigotry, homophobia, religious fundamentalism, our own government…

*the fact that children go to bed hungry in one of the wealthiest nations in the world.

*that I neglected to tell important people how much they meant to me when I had the chance.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Another year begins and so does﻿ another Nanowrimo project. While I tried (kind of) in 2008, this year was the year I decided I would beast this thing. I have tons of shorts I write in various genres and have expanded into short stories but I just keep thinking I have something else in me...hence the literary torture. So far, I am a bit behind where I wanted to be but this week affords me three days of 8 uninterrupted hours that I can capitalize on. Honestly, from a mom perspective, getting anything done over the weekend is a miracle so I am a happy camper. It is still not too late, come do the Nano dance with me!

About Me

Writer, local funny girl, kick ass mom, foodie and film nerd.
I am fortunate that I get to do what I want. Sometimes I write for children, sometimes for grownups. I royally piss people off or mildly amuse them. Anything in between wouldn’t be very interesting. I am making my happily ever after up as I go. Come on, you know you want to, so do it!